Building Classroom Community and Promoting Engagement (In-Person)

Without fail, one of the most universal issues educators encounter in the classroom is how to engage students and motivate them to participate in activities and discussions. Active Learning strategies are some of the best tools to promote learner engagement and buy-in by establishing various types of low-stakes activities to help cement learning. However, personal motivations for participation are intrinsic to individual students and may not be addressed by the academic culture of placing value on efficiency and results. Similarly, the establishment of the academic hierarchy of students, graduate students, post-docs, and educators promotes an environment of perceived power that establishes an “us” and “them” mentality. 

These dynamics make it difficult to establish a foundation for classroom community and culture, which nurtures authentic connections. When faced with the idea of an indifferent and detached instructor, learners may ask, “What’s the point of participating if they don’t even care?” and perform the minimum tasks to achieve a desired grade. In contrast, authentic connections break down perceived barriers and incentivize student participation as their individual contributions and selves feel valued and welcome in the classroom. 

This workshop explores vulnerability and storytelling as tools for creating a classroom community by taking a person-first approach and treating learners as people before students. It will provide strategies for navigating professionalism while creating opportunities for personal connection, using Person-Centered Pedagogies and Pedagogies of Care and Kindness.